Bernstein Sees Bitcoin at $150K Despite Retail Shift to AI
Bernstein analysts reaffirm a $150,000 year-end Bitcoin target, arguing the 50% drawdown from the peak signals maturation rather than decline, even as retail interest pivots toward AI tokens.
Bitcoin has lost roughly half its value from the all-time high, but Wall Street researchers at Bernstein argue the selloff reflects a maturing asset, not a dying one. The brokerage maintains its year-end price target of $150,000, betting that institutional adoption and the halving cycle will eventually reassert themselves.
The drawdown, while severe by conventional metrics, is being framed as a natural consolidation phase within a secular bull market. Bernstein notes that retail investors have grown 'bored' with Bitcoin and are rotating into AI-themed tokens, a shift that has exacerbated near-term selling pressure. However, the analysts see this as a temporary distraction rather than a structural change in demand. They point to the upcoming halving in 2028 as a supply-side catalyst that historically precedes major price appreciation. For traders monitoring the current pullback, NowPrice's real-time crypto quotes provide up-to-the-minute levels across major exchanges.
Looking ahead, the key question is whether institutional flows via spot ETFs can absorb the retail exodus. Bernstein expects ETF inflows to accelerate as regulatory clarity improves, particularly in the US. The brokerage also highlights that miner selling pressure is easing as hashprice stabilizes. While the $150,000 target implies a roughly 200% rally from current levels, the path is unlikely to be linear. Traders should watch for a break above key resistance near $60,000 as a first sign of renewed momentum, with the next major catalyst being the Federal Reserve's rate decision later this month.